Corn popping machine



July 22, 1952 c. J. cREToRs 2,604,030

CORN POPPING MACHINE v Filed Aug. 6, 1947 s sheets-sheet 1 62' ai?! Z i591, 6%

A 57 ia 9- 71 l '69 5f .n 5 @1f-# f 'L5 742 F522@ 25 75.75- 0 ITM da /32 20 26 lg l .-P-d ij- @www July 22, 1952 A c. J. cREToRs 2,604,030

C ORN POPPING MACHINE Filed Aug. 6, 1947 Y V"5 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 22, 1952 cz.` J. cREToRs 2,604,030

CORN POPPING MACHINE Filed Aug. e, 1947 s sheets-sheet 's Patented July l22, 1952 ooRNP-OPPING MACHINE Gnarles .J. oretors, .Highland .Park-,fn1-.Ql assign-0n to JC. Cretors:v 8a4 Co., Chicago,` Ill., a corporation ofl'llinois Application `August 6,' 1947; SeriaIfNo; 766,599

9 Claims'. 1

This' invention relates'to'improvements in -cornpopping machines and it consists of the matters hereinafter described andL more particularly pointed out'. in the vappended claims.

"The invention is' -more 'especially--conoernedwith 'a corn poppingmachine of^ the kindthat'includes 'an'open topY popping pan; capable of turning about an' axis fromv `its horizontal poppingfposition^to l'its 'dump-ing position,-4 upon va disconnection between the lagita-tor,'journal-led in the pan, and its"1ong itudi"na1iy movable vertical drive' shaft" :and .upon which the` coverv f fory the pan is 'si'idably mounted form'ovementaway fromand toward the pan as the-latter is 4tu-rified fromy itslpdpping position. to' its" dumping' position-and back. to :said-popping position. A reorn-poppingmachine of this kind iis-illustrateda-nd described inimy United States Patent 231:1@21358--0f'- .1Vravrezr'29-l 193%."`

*In a-"cornpopping--machine of -this kindL--i-t -isdesirable to have `the'-gdisconnection-lcetvveen 4the agitator in the -pan and- -its--1ong-itudina1iy movable drive shaftoccur substantially atfthe instant ofinitial separation therebetween.- not'omyl sothatthere may be-n'o binding-action-the coact'- ing iclutch f elements, -betweensaid agitator and shaft? which might -bend the-latter, :bu-talsotoA afford a- -greaterclearance bet-Ween the shaft. and the pan when' thea-latter isV turnedto dump-f y ing position.-

Oneofi-'the objects-of the present invention# is toj provideL animproved mmm-ting 'f'orthe: ypan- Which permits va substantially instantaneous dis-- connection between ttheagitatori-n the: popping Y pan and:l its driveA shaft' inthe initial-part of the i movementV ofthe pan from" its popping,rv position to-its dum-ping'-'posi-iio'n, and Which-also-'afford's a. #greater-clearancebetweenthe shaft and the` panas' the latteris 'toward' its Edumping position.-

Another object of-` the invention-'fis' toy provide irra' machine-'of ythis kinda-:novel arrangement' between-"the popping- 'pan-"andthe drive shaft, whereby the; drive' shaft' is--spacedlaterally from* and"ofi""cerrterwi`thfrespect to vrthe horizontalf axis' aboutwhich thezpan-turns-from-"one position to thetothr anditoward- 'the' same Kside of' said airis Y* neo'us .disconnection occurs'between'the agitator andits*drivershafin".y

further obect ofthe-inventiontofpro;

- vide simple; and. :ecientf meansL inf-amachi-ne'- of this: kind'- -for accelerating the een 'part-,eef` the mentiand.associate'dfportion/of't agitatorfdriv swinging movementof v.the vpan ff'rom :one-fposition to the other, thereby affordingfaeounterbalancing eiect which reduces the efrt reqliired on A the part of `the operator inlturning' lthe panfrom yone -position to the other -and-freduces-th operators fatigue at the end of.:a--dayfsl workliin operating-the machine.`

The. above mentioned-.objecten the invention, aswel-i as others;togetherwithi'ti :advantages-i c thereof, will more fully appear as the-spelsiiiea.-'1- tionproeeeds. Y

Inthe drawings:V Y

Fig..-1' is a perspective View 'o-i aportionrofxcorns popping machine, fembodyingf the preferred oi" `the inventionggwith :the in-popli-'ng position. Y y

Fig.. 21 is a perspective" vievsfoiil -`cert'a`/irrf ofilthe.. partsappearing in AFigi on a. `slightly eniargedzsca-1e,-v .when viewedfromihe .left handl 'sidev ofv` said-'Fig.1,iwith lthepopping pan. .inl-lits dumping' position. Y

appearingy in '-Firg. .4 as taken-ionthey line 6i-6i annif Fig v: 'is a.. vertical-.detail sect1-ena view as tekeer-- Fig .e-isa horizontal: sectional-www-through;

parts` appearing Fig-14; as taken-1 on fthe-line 8-"48E andion--ascaleeniargedoverthatiof AF'igf!) isa view in side eIevationfof-partsappear-iing atr-thieileft handiside ofFig-kwithtcertainietf-i.

said parts in a changed relation.

Figs Ioisf-a perspectivev detail-i view lshowing1@a subassembly-i embodied inl the: improved-machine.; and 'which will bemorevfuI-lyfreferred: 'olla/ter.`

Big-All isla detaii.p'erspectiveffview ageaneeLff ing fshaft-l-'embodied'n theA maehinetvand will be more fully''referred.toi-later; f

Fig. 12 is a perspective view Aof a certainpali- 1..`

POPDPIS- Dani thereof the. bestem f r4 A part/.of oneside Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, Il! indicates a part of the top wall of the casing of the improved corn popping machine, which supports substantially all of the operating mechanism therefor.

Suitably fixed at its top end to and extending downwardly from la part ofthe wall I Il is a vertical tubular postor standard I I, which terminates at the bottom as a horizontally disposed hollow housing I2 having outer and inner end walls I3 and I4 respectively, which best appear in Fig. 8. A pan supporting member I 5 is journalled in the end wall I4 and it has one end of a stub'shaft I 6 xed thereto. The other end ofsaid shaftis journalled in the end wall I3 and projects therebeyond to have a collar I'I fixed thereto. This collar, which includes a radial arm I8, operatively secures the member I5 and its shaft I6 in the housing I2 for a turning movement. The purpose of the arm I8. which appears best in Figs. 2 and 9, will'appear later.

Thehousing I2 enclosesl a current distributing mechanism for the heating means of the popping pan of the machine and in one side of said housing is an opening I9 (see Fig. 6) which is normally closed by a removable box-like cover 20. The said currentY vdistributing mechanism 4 and heating means above mentioned will soon be described in more detail. Y

One end of a horizontally disposed pan supporting arm 2I is fixed to the member I5 at a point spaced radially from the axis thereof and extends outwardly therefrom at a rather obliquev angleto said axis. A peripheral portion of the member I5 is flattened oi as at 22 and the normal upper rend of a turning, lever 23 is pivoted thereto by a-fstud 24 (see Fig.. 7), for a limited lateral swinging movement. Adjacent the flattened por-V tion the periphery of the member I5V isrprovided with a recess 25 in which a pin 25a. carried by said upper end of thelever, Venters sothat the sides ofY said recess act as stops Vfor limiting the lateral swinginglmovement of the lever.V Said upper end of the leverV carries a tip `26 for engagement under a stop 21 on thehousing wall I4 when thelever is swung counterclockwise in Fig. 1 and this'limits the turning movement of the member I5 to that position affording the popping position for the popping pan `(later mentioned) and supported by the arm 2I. f

The popping pan, which is indicated as a whole asat 28, includesa relatively thick bottom 29` and a relatively thin upright side wallr 30, the Aupper edge of which is formed with a bead 3| thatl definespthe open top of the pan. A skirt. 32 extends downwardly and outwardly from said vbead to terminate at substantially the plane of the bottom of thepopping pan 2B. Thisfpopping pan is annular in plan and its center is offset laterally from the horizontal axis, about which the pan turns from one position to the other and toward the same side of said axis in which one side of the panV swings downwardly from the popping to dumping position.

Associated with said skirt 32 isa lower cover pan 33, the bottom34 of which is disposed below the supporting member 2l and the side wall 350i which extends upwardly; inside lof the' bottom margin of the skirt and is detachably connected thereto so: that the cover pan 33, Vskirt' 32 4and pan 28 form a unitary structure for turning mover ment- .Y .Y Y,

of,theskirt 32 and the wall the pan supporting arm 2I therethrough. This arrangement best appears in Fig. 4.

Fixed to the other end of the arm member 2I is a plate 35, which is arranged centrally of the pan bottom and to which it is fixed in spaced relation by means of relatively short posts and bolts `3'I,.which are xed to the pan bottom and extend through said plate vand collar.toireceiveassociated clamping nuts. These parts best appearin Figs. 4 and 5.

Associated with and in Yintimate engagement with the pan bottom on the underside thereof are annular'inner and outer electrical heating elements 33 and 39 respectively. The inner element 38 is arranged substantially coaxially with the axis of the pan bottom and the outer element 39 is arranged eccentric with respect thereto so as to have one side disposed substantially coincident with that part of the pan bottom nearest the member I5. By this off-tochter or eccentric arrangement of said outerelement, a space 45 (see Fig. 5) is provided yat Athatside of the pan bottom opposite to the first mentioned side, to which a thermostat 4I, that controls the action of said elements, may be directly engaged with thepan bottom without unduly enlarging the diameter of the pan bottom. vThis affords desired engage-Y n ment for accurate control action.

The elements 33 and 39 are removably fixed to the pan bottom byY means of U-shaped clips 42j that Vstraddle they space between'said elements and engage therewith to be fixed to the pan bot-f1 tom by associated nuts and bolts 42a, thev latter of `f which dependfrom the parl bottom.

tachably engaged. The upper section of this drive shaft is indicated at 49 and these sections are ldetachably connected together by a coupling l 50. A spring 5I surrounds a part of the upper shaft section between said coupling 55 and the,

casing top wall I0 to normally urge the shaft as a whole downwardly. The purpose of this spring will appear later. extends up through the casing wall Ill and has a slidingguided engagement through a speedfre-V ducing `gear casing 52. A rotative part of said reducing gear in saidcasing, in the form ofza worm gear 53 (see Fig. 11) carries a pair'gof spacedupright pins 54 and the upper end of .saidVr upper shaft section 49 carriesa cross pin 55. cross pin is so arranged on the shaft thatwhen the pin 46 at the bottom end thereof engages in the notch 45 of the agitator hub, the cross pin 55 will engage the pins 54 and be driven thereby to turn or rotate the agitator. The drive shaft lfor The top section of this shaft the reducing gearing may be driven in any suitl able manner as by an electric motor 52a that may .be supported by the casing top wall I0. Should the operator .slam the pantoo hard in theturning of the pan from its dumping back toitsppl ping position, sothat' the hub 44 too forcefully engages the coactingl member 41 onk the lower shaft'section, the shaft comprising said's'ections I 4.8-49 canfyield upwardly toV such'a degree' that Y the pin'A 55 momentarily disengages-fromthe pins 54 mentioned. The spring 5I then yjeturnsvfthe Y y shaftrto its normal position togagainicauseaidrivl. as of the cover pan is' cutawayfgrethersssgseg maeeegsqtisnsi sa@ 1afi,;,ee,.pri 5,399.11? -L speed. redueinggear casing-52.1 Thus,v shouldthe operator slam the popping pan 28 when-swingingfit back-to popping position-the shaft -comprisingfsaid fsect-ions-iteariliot i bend -to thereafter`- stall and v'damage the -motor yfor driving ducinglgearingfinfthe casingl52. l

The-cover Iforthey opentop of the Ypan is indilthe recated-at 56 and lit normally'rests, duringinitial y is-ja ,rodl1ikestem59; the bottom"-endjof which' isjoiset jlaterally'toward said-shaft section and said bottom end of the Vstem' rvcarries -a--iyolte '60 thatengagesA within vthe groovevv in v`the hub 51.

The upperjend of saidstem extendsthrough-v the casingiwall Il) Withfatslidingactionand the upper` extremity of said stem slides"through'-one end f of a cross head; bar. 6l with stop'v nuts '-62 Aabovezsaid bar; The otherjend of 'said' Vcross .head "barsli'dably= engages'upon'; an'upright post- 63; the bottom topsurface of the wall I0," The top end'of `'this postjcarries 'stop nuts 55 forengagernent 'bythe cross headbar 6l.' Links EB are pivotally connectedV` at' their :upper endsv to the orosshe'ad 'par'I 6 ly 'and at their 'lower'en'ds are pivotally connecte ed'to 'associated 'upper ends of linksfGT-f'l, the

otherendsof which are pivotally mounted in'the blocirl; A contractible coiled spring "68fis'con nested at Yits ends to the links 'end tends'to' ends of said -'links `toward eachy Swms the lower Other-j.'

`WhenLthe cover 56 is 'in its "closed position upon the bead 3| of th'epopping pan, as at the beginning`=of a'poppingjoperat-ion, theli'n'ks B1 occupy a position, "extending slightly upwardly' from the horizontal, as appears 'in Fig. l and the spring Sawiil be in a stretched or extended position.

The 4"parts" described are so correlated thatV the weight of the cover56 and rod v'59" and parts thereon 'approximately' counterbalance -the contracting action of the spring 68, whichis'not' strongjenough to (functionat this time through the 'links'.,GB-B'Ito raise the stem 59 and cover 563urjiless the "cover is given an initial upward start 'When corn is' popping in the pan, itincreases 'in lvolume 'and tends .to 'lift the vcover so asto spill'iout from"thepan,f Whenlthis' popped.

stem, vimparts a4 quick upward lift 'on the "cover to'slide the same upwar.diy/oniA 'theshaft section 48 `tcrsuch^an elevation "an'd`intol the "position shown'in Figx2, as affords clearance between' the cover-and pan -when the latter-is being'swungY toward dumping positonn- I Y It-may sometimes be vdesired-ato -manually-lift the-l cover i`into its -elevated position, asfwhenf charging-the pan'with y unpopp'ed corn; *f For this reasonf.'Ifsecure to thefstem1-5'9a handle-168. Of

course, when the cover is elevatedeb'y means ff of the handle, the spring-J'jthroughthe linkage:

mentionedywill retain the cover inlsaid f elevated position-.untilrit is desired toireturnlitto its closed position :on 'the popping zpan lever- 23) .from its popping-position'to its dumpingposition; counterbalancing mechanism is providedf therefor fand such lmechanism-i isv associatedfwith theoutersend `wall -I'3 of thehousing lZfJSuch i# mechanism includes a ``horizontalv disposed spring 10 which best appears in perspectivelQ.

This:-spring iincludes a-fcoiled-v body 1-I,1the v'convolution-at thevv inner end of which isforrnedfas i a short longitudinalf-stud 12 and the cio'nv'olu-tio'n'- at the'vother end ofe-whichlextends'tangentially of thebodyfas anarm 13. Said' spring-is loagted-iri'Av ahori'zontally-disposed housingv'M onthepost=|fi justAabove--the `housing 2|-2 The --stud "12 of lsaid spring;is-anchored-in an open-ing =l la (see Fig-4) inthe-post -I-'l andthe arm y'13of'said springfn'er-y mally'rbea-rs againstafroller`15=carried by fthe-@arm lfofthe collar I1, before-mentioned.rv 1 I 1 f 4 When'th-e vpopping pan 28 is-in popping-'positon; as `in Fig; 1, the arm'flBstands-in vaf-subof the spring arm 13. spring arm is the least 1 flexible adjatentY -the coiled lbody ll land-becomes--moreexibletoward f-itsfree end. 'I`herefore, -the #spring-arm- 'I3 exerts' itsgreatest force against the earm 't8 'when Lit is vinV the position-'appearing in-Fig. 9 and-which corresponds to the popping lposition -fonthe #pan-1 28. Therefore,v said spring arm; tendsto -yield1fe vlingly urge saidA pan towardv popping position andine'which it is releasably held -bylr'easonio-f'--?they engagement of thestud- 2t' v under 4the-sto'pyfll- Asthe fp an'f-is *swungy towardldumping position by'ineans iof the lever 23,the initial part-of this :movement is oiere'dits `greatest resistance by the'spring 'arm' 13 and as thefrollerwl5travels downwardly towardth'e free 'end of "said arm*V the resistance decreases vand is theA 'least' whien/y .saidroller '15"'is in the positionapparIlgin1 Fig. 2 and when the pan is in dumpingfpositi'on;

In this movement ofthe pan towardfldump'i'rig position, the popped corn is splling'rom-fthepan and the resistance of the pan to such 'movement decreases as .the pan approaches dumping posi;

tion. When the pan isV in the dumping position asin Fig, 2 the resistance offered by the spring arm kis .the least in force so that when thelever 23 released the panswings orlsettles back'to a position :wherein the plane of its.diameterwill assume a substantially vertical position. In thet return Yswingingmovement `of the pan back to napping position. ,the initial, pas .thereof-istie# f resisted by saidsprinsarm and Ais `then accelerated thereby-Y Thus a counterbalancns effect aorded for'the pan in its swingingnuovenient r from oneposition to the other.

Qperatively securedto the shaftzl. withinzthei housing yI2, between the member I5 and'bushing end wall I3 of said,hou sing.isya sleeveeof insula. tion 116,. best i shownin. Figs.` 6 `and, 8.1 ,Onthis Sleeve.. SmQl1Il.Qd 2%.,1311lraliy' OfflOIllld-lnally :11. 18 ,and T9.;

spaced current .distributor rings respeetivelyfl A `Assemated --withi and inoperative Ver,easement with .opposite zsidesaof said rings arel lomshes 7.80 8| and.82 respectively ofva generally vvU-sghapetii` formation, `as appearsin Fis- 6- These brushes-1' arefeach attached to a block 83 ofk insulation, by a terminal 84. Said :b1ockisdisposed in the..`

opening 19 Yinthe housing .|2, and .is enclosed by f,11e.;cover2m"beforermentioned,` and is. xed in supporting ,relation :to the ,housing by means..y .ot screws 83a, one of which-appears iri-Iliglt'.'A As- .-sociated -with leach bolt 2.84, outsidetheff'insula-L- -st-antiallyu uprightposition;l as infFigw'Q, withl its roller 15bearingagainst an upper `vportion- It is obvious that-said `corn from. thetop of thepan. 1

meenam tion block ;83, 'arethe usual ynuts.wlnirebycurej rentfconductors 85,V 86Vand 81 (see Fig. 6) thatlead from a suitable circuitand down through the member l |l and into the housing, maybeconnected to the jassociated brush 8|),V 8| and 82;V respectively. ,Y l 5 Y vThe sleeve 16 is' provided with a plurality-of y longitudinal channels `88,.` 89 and 90 respectively (seeFig.-6) eachl of` which stops-at one end theplane of anjassociatedfring 11, Lauri-12|` respectively, and each of which communicates with a tubular extensionl, fixed at one 4end to the member 'I 5anvd having-itspther end vopening through the sidewall 35 of; the bottom coverjtoA extend intothe latten I n said set of-channelsv mentioned are current conductors 92, 93 and 941 respectively, which lead to a terminal block 95 Y (see Fig. on the underside ofthe panr bottom,

for bculheating elements 38 and sa.` @thereon` ductors 9B and 9,1 connect the thermostat 4| to` said block forV a control of :the action fof said elements. K Y Y i. H

`The operation is as follows: .Thewnormal posi-1,(y tion of the popping pan is thehorzontal popping position appearing in full lines in Figff ;l with the `cover 5B inpositcnclosing the open top thereof. Saidk pan is releasably locked in this position -by reason of the engagement ofthe stud I 2`E ,with the stop 2 1. on thewall |12A of the housing |72.` By grasping the hand/1e 59 'andlifting up- Vwardlyvthereon, the cover 5SV may be lifted into an elevatedposition above therpan, exposing the open top of vthepan sothat unpopped corn, seasoning and salt mayv bereadily introducedinto the pan. When said handle is pressed down,

the cover'slides down the shaft section` '481 into J tsclo'sed positionfon the b'eadvil of the lpopping' pan; When the cover is in its closed position on vthe bead, the linkage (iS- 61 isA in thel position appearingin Fig. 1 and'said linkage "and its' sprin'g'is in substantial'balance with the weight" ofthe cover5l.` l 1"' Y f Assuming at this't-iine that the conductors S5. and 81 are connected to asource of current; it Vobvious Vthat current iows,throughv the brushes amel and s2, rings-vu, wand-1a and: conductorsV 92, 93' and S to the terminal 'block 95 so; that the elements 38 and 39 `are energizedY togheat the pan'bottom'. -By-reasonof the eccentric varrangement of said elements, as be-v fore described, the heating ofthe-panbottorn isVnot spotty but is even and uniform over its entire areaf--Whenthe corn begins tol pop'inf. the pan, `it vswells or increases volume and- When this Volume reaches the cover,- it will lift-- the same from its position onthe bead In the initial openingao'r raising of the cover, thebalance between the linkage and springand the -cover-is changedso that thespring 58' tends tof-contractand drawthelinksl, 61 on one sideof: the post 53 toward the companion'linksv o'n'theotherside thereof. l; In this vmovement ofthe links,- the 'cross head bar 6| slides up-the. post 63 and engagesl the nuts 65 thereonassai stop. In this movement of the linkage the'cr'ossfhead bar will, throughithe stop nuts G12-"on theV stem-59 pickup and lift the same' and thefcoveruit@ the fuirunepositioashownmerg. afer-a free lowor spilling out of the part of: the popped .When the. popping. ceases, the operator 'graspethe lever 23 and swings the same laterally.v clockle wise. from the @full line position to dotted posi-l tion (see Fig. ,1) to releasegthe studv26 from the stopfzland thenswnes said lever upwardlytc so that'a complete emptying of the pan ofpopped cornis assured. Whenr the pan is' in itsdumping", Y

, Y 8; dump theremainder of the poppedcornrfrom the, .1331.1-

vWhen the lever is' swung upwardly, by reasonv of the lateral off-centerarrangement between the axis of the shaft I6 andthe axes of the shaft parts lla-49, as the panv swings towarddumping position, an instantaneous lseparation or disconnection will take place between the hub 44 of the agi- I.

tator and the Vmember 41 on the lower shaft section. In this movement of the pan that side. of'. thevpan-farthest away from the operator, who, is assumed Vto be on the near side (Fig. 1A), Will,-

swing downwardly and that side of the pan near- Y estthe operator will swing upwardly. Also, inr ,thismovement ofthe pan, by reason of the angulararrangement ofthe pan supporting arm 2|,V

the Vpanin its swing, toward dumpingpcsition.. will swing away from the axis of the shaft parts f 418-49 toward the operator, thusaffording a posi.` tive? clearance of the pan withA referencev to th cover.V This movement of thepan from popping.A

to dumping position, is somewhat vgreater than position, as in Fig. 2, the lever is'stopped at an upward angle toward the operator, as shown, and in which position it may be readily grasped to swing .i the pan back to Vpopping position. Furthermore, with .the arrangement described, the separation.

between the agitator huband the shaft section.

occurslthe 'instant the pan begins to turn so that no binding effect occurs between the agitatorh'ub d4 and the member 41 to interfere' with the free turning or swing of the pan toward dumping posi-.l tion.V VIn this turning movement of the popping.

pan rfrom one position .to the other,y the spring 10 functions to counterbalanceV the weight ofthe pan in both directions, as previouslyedescribed."

After the popped corn has. been dumped from the pan, the latter is swung back toward i'tsfpopf ping position, by aV pull downwardly on the'leverA 23, and when popping position has been reached, l

saidileveris swung counterclockwise to `dispose the stud26 under the stop 21 so the pan is again releasably Vlocked in popping position ready for, the'gnext charge of unpopped corn.v As 'thepan approaches popping position, the hub 44 offthe@ agitator makes a driving connectionv with the: member 46 on the bottom end of the shaft sectionY 48. Should the operator ,slamfth'e panzibackto popping position too forcefully sov astov cause the hub to engage said member 46, this will lift'the@ shaftv sections 48 and 4S jointly upwardly' against i the action of the springA 5| and momentarilyv dis# engage the pin 55 from the pins' 51|.v Thus the,Y driveA shaft for the agitator is momentarily disen gaged from the speed reducing gearin the casing 52 soY that the-motor employed to drive such gear' v cannot Vbe stalled or damaged and the shaftcom' prising the sections dllllcann'ot becomebent VV'Af-ter the pan has again been charged with 1in-.i1 popped corn, the handle V|9`is pulled downwardly. and this will open the linkage 66-61 and replace the .cover 5B in the bead 3| to Close the panfvfor another popping operation.v

With vthe .arrangementfof parts described, a quicker actionand better timing is possiblein the -1 releasing of; driving power to the/agitatorandin the upward movement of the cover` toprovide agi.

ofy thee.

free clearance for a turning movement paninto its dumping Position.

Y While 1in describing the invention v-Ifhave rie-1fl ferred; in detailto theform, arrangement."and.` construction of the parts involved, the same'sto.;v

loe/.considered only in the illustrative' sense. and,

1 therefore, I donot wish to; be iimitea thereto, exvvceptasgmay be speciicallydcalled for; inthe. ap- ,pendedi claims,

. Inclaim: as., my invention:

..1.,:In.;.a.. corn popping: machine, means ar` :ranged-for turning movementl about a-horizontal naxis, apoppingpan having a normally horizontal popping position operatively supported .by said :meansand turnableabout said axis from: said popping vposition into aY dumping position, an' agi- -themachinef to releasa'bly lock the'pan-in said popping position.

2;' In a corn popping machine, anxed supporting member, means journalled in said member 'for-a turning movement about a horizontal axis,A afpopping pan having a normally horizontal popping position operatively supported by said means and-turnable therewith about said 'axis from said -poppingposition into the dumping position for Y said pan, a second member fixed with respect to said means, and means carried by said supporting member and-including a resilient arm against which said second member has engagement when the pan is turned from one position to the other.

' 3." Inacornpopping machine, a fixed supporting member, means j ournalledinsaid member for a turningv movement about a horizontal axis, a popping pan having a normally horizontal popping position operatively supported by saidmeans Aand tiirnableV therewith about said axis from said popping position into the dumping position for f said pan, an agitator journalled in said pan for rotation about a vertical axis offset to one side of said horizontal axis when said pan is in popping position, a drive shaft for said agitator arranged in said vertical axis, coacting means on said agitator and said shaft respectively adapted for engagement when said pan is in popping position to form a driving connection between said agitator and said shaft and adapted for disengagement in the initial part of the turning movement of the pan .toward dumping position to break said driving connection, a lever pivotally mounted near one end on a part of said first mentioned means so that its other end may be swung toward and away from said pan, and means carried by the rst mentioned end of said lever member when its other end is swung toward said pan to engage a fixed part of said supporting member to releasably lock the pan in said popping position.

4. In a corn popping machine, a fixed supporting member, means journalled in said member for a turning movement about a horizontal axis, a popping pan having a normally horizontal popping position operatively supported by said means and turnable therewith about said axis from said popping position into the dumping position for said pan, an agitator journalled in said pan for rotation about a vertical axis offset from one side of said horizontal axis when said pan is in popping position, a drive shaft for said agitator arranged in said vertical axis, coacting means on said agitator and said shaft respectively adapted for engagement when said pan is in popping position to form a driving con- ,shaft and on; saidu agitatorvrespeotivelya adapted '.10 nection between said-:agitator and said shaft and adapted-,fordisengagement in the initial part oftheturning-movement of the pin towardy dumping position to break said driving connctpni and members carried byY said rst mentioned.;.means and by lsaid-supporting member respectivelyand operating-in a part of the turning 'movement of the.. pan :from the popping towardithe: dumping positonto accelerate the movement of` .saidanan into.; dumping; position. f

5,f...-I.n a corn.- popping machine. a: popping:v pan Vmounted for ar turning movement-i about .ahorip zontal axis. from; a popping; position to; a; dump- Y.ins position 1 and. viceversa.. an; agit ator jour .a vertical a drive .nal/led.; in .the pan for. rotation.. abo axis whenrthepan is-.inpopping posi .'shaftarranged in line with saidvertical axis,

means; inzwln'jchsaid. shaft .is .operatively engaged for; rotation: as wellaas: a. limited l. git-udinal movement, coactingmeansxonthe botto-1n.y offfsaid pan. 'is swung-.from

forv engagement whensa;

said: ,dur1r1ping-f-position.:back-finto.` said: popping positionto form a driving connection; between said.;shaft andsaid agitator vanda,adaptecl-.for disengagement, in` the initial .part of. theimovement. ofitheY pan as it is swungfrom; sazidipopping: position to saiddumpine position-.a driving memberforysiaid shaft, :a clutch `elemente;carried; byfsaid. driving member, asecond clutch element ,carried inv-said shaft. yieldingnmeansznormally f urging the'. shaft' longitudinally.yv infythat direction to operatively engage.. said :chit-oneclements. and; drive said: shaft: 1 from said- Vv driving memben; :said yielding.; means. operatingzrto-permit. a longitudinalmovement..of said shaftinfthe other zolirerztion;v sufficient to. momentarilyfdisengage.- said; clutch elements fromvl said .driving gages/said clutch, elements-when,saidzcoaoting means on said agitator and .the 'bottom-5 end-of said shaft are engaged with such force as the pan swings into popping position as to overcome the action of said yielding means.

6. In a corn popping machine, a popping pan mounted for a turning movement about a horizontal axis from a popping position to a dumping position and vice versa, an agitator journalled in the pan for rotation about a vertical axis when the pan is in popping position, a drive shaft arranged in line with said vertical axis, means in which said shaft is operatively engaged for rotation as well as a limited longitudinal movement, said shaft includingvupper and lower shaft parts and means for coupling said parts together, coacting means on the bottom end of said lower shaft part and on said agitator respectively vadapted for engagement when said pan is swung from said dumping to said popping position to form a driving connection between said shaft and said agitator and adapted for disengagement in the initial part of the movement of the pan as it is swung from said popping position to said dumping position, a driving member from said upper shaft part, a clutch member carried by said driving member, a second clutch member carried by said upper shaft part, yielding means normally urging said shaft longitudinally downwardly to operatively engage said clutch elements and to drive said shaft from said driving member, said yielding means operating to permit a longitudinal upward movement of said shaft suflicient to momentarily disengage said clutch members when 7- saidcoacting means on said agitator and on said lowerjshaft part are engaged with such force as the-pan swings into popping position'as to 'overcome the action of said yielding means.

7. YIn'a cornv popping machine, va stationary Vv.gmember,rotatablemeans carried by the station- V'ary member and having a horizontal axis of rotation,a generallyV circular popping pan having a normally horizontal popping position, an arm fixed at one end to said rotatable means, extending therefrom and having` its other end attached to the popping pan so as to Ysupport the center of lthe popping pan in a position laterally oiset Vwith respect to the horizontal axis of rotation of said rotatable means inY an amount substantially less than the radius of the pan, whereby when the pan is in its popping position and said rotatable means is turned in one direction on its horizontal axis said arm swings in a direction causing the center of the pan bottom to move downward Y with respect to said horizontal axis, as the vpan moves fromfits horizontal position toward inverted dumping position, an agitator journaled in thecenter of the popping pan, a Ydrive shaft for the agitator having a vertical axis of rotation in vertical alignment withk the center of the popping fpan, and coacting means on said agitator and shaft adapted for engagement when said' pan is in popping position to form a driving connection between said agitator and shaft and adapted for disengagement in the initial part of the move- 'ment of the pan toward dumping position to break said driving connection.

8. In a corn popping machine, a fixed support, a` popping pan supporting member' journaled at one end in said support, an arm secured to said member, aA popping panmountedon the other end of said member, means for turning said member from a popping to a dumping position, an arm .carried by* said Vmember and resilient means carried by said support and engaged with said arm and normally acting thereon to turn the' pan toward popping position. i'

12 9. In a corn popping machine, af stationary member, rotatable means carried by the stationary member and having a horizontal axis of rotation, a popping pan having anormally horizontal popping position, an arm fixed at one end to'said rotatable means, extending therefrom'and having its other end attached to the popping pan so as t0 support the center of the popping pan in a position laterally offset with Vrespect to the horizontal axis of rotation of saidv rotatable means in an amount substantially less than one-halfv of the Width of the pan as viewed from saidhorizontal axis, whereby whenthepan is in its popping position and said rotatable means is turned in one direction on its horizontal axis said arm swings in a direction causing the center of the Y disengagement in the initial part of the movement Number of the pan toward dumping position to break said driving connection. l

, CHARLES J CRETQRS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent: v

UNITED STATES `PATENTS Name y Date 1,142,729 Rathjen June, 1915 2,112,358 Cretors Mar. 29, 1938 2,134,682 Y, Burch Nov. 1, 1938 

